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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: Microbiol Spectr. 2015 Jan 29;3(3):MDNA3-0015-2014. doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0015-2014

Figure 6. Proposed Antigenic Variation Initiation Pathway.

Figure 6

Transcription initiation at the sRNA upstream of pilE melts the DNA allowing the G4 structure to form. An unknown protein may bind the G4 to stabilize the structure. A single stranded nick may occur on the strand opposite the G4 due to a stalled replication fork. RecQ could unwind the G4 structure. RecJ resects the 5′ nicked end allowing RecA to mediate recombination, possibly enhanced by binding the G4 structure, with RecOR using regions of homology between pilE and the donor pilS, possibly through a recombination mechanism detailed in Figure 5. RecG and RuvABC then process and resolve the recombination intermediate.